Ditching-machine.



J. L. CONROY 6: J. SHIMON.

DITCHING MACH'INE.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 6. 1914.

Patented 11331161916.

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mamas CONROY & J. SHIMON. DHCHING MACHINE.

APPUCATIQN FILED MAY 6, 1914.

Patnted May16,1916.

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J. L. CONROY & J. SHIMON.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 6, 1914.

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1,183,633, Patented May 16, 1916.

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DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. m4.

A TTOB/VEYS J. L. CONROY & J. SHiMON. DITCHING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 6. 1914.

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l/WE/VTORS JOHN 1.. 60/1/50) JOE JH/MO/V By M hTmHA/Ers WITNESSES J. L.CONROY & J. SHiMON.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, I914.

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DITCI-IING-1VIACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,659.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN L. CoNRoY and JosnPH SI-IIMON, both citizensof the United States, and residents of Pocahontas, in the county ofPocahontas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to ditching machines of the tractor type, our moreparticular purpose being to provide a device of this character having anexcavating wheel, driven from the source of power used for propellingthe machine along.

More particularly stated, we seek to improve the efliciency of themachine by arranging for its complete control'by the operator, andespecially with reference to the changing of the position of theexcavating wheel while the machine is in action.

As is well understood in this art, a ditching machine, if ofconsiderable power, presents many difficulties with regard to the weightof the various movable parts of the machine.

What we seek to do is to enable the operator to raise or lower theexcavating wheel to any desired extent within reasonable limits, and tomaintain the excavating wheel at the proximate level to which it is thusshifted under control of the operator.

We further seek to provide an improved form of cleaning wheel, to beused in connection with the excavating wheel, and practically automaticin its action.

Our invention further comprehends various improvements relative to thesteering gear, the various other parts of the ditching machine, for thepurpose of increasing the general efiiciency thereof.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in which like letters indicate like arts. p Figure 1is a side elevation of the machine, certain parts being broken away.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, as seen from the oppositeside from that appearing to the observer in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is afragmentary plan view of the ditching machine. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a section, on the line 55 of Fig. 3,looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a section, on the line6-6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing moreparticularly certain mechanism asso mated with the excavating wheel.

A U-frame is shown at 7 and is movable relat vely to the side bars 8, 9,the latter forming a part of the general frame work of the machine. Afloor is shown at 10 and has the form of a platform upon which theoperator stands. The front wheels appear at 11 and are mounted upon stubaxles 12, the latter being journaled in bearings 13. The stub axles areprovided with sprocket wheels 14 mounted rigidly thereupon, and engaglngthese sprocket wheels are sprocket chains 15. These sprocket chainsengage two sprocket wheels 16, the latter being mounted rigidly upon theends of a shaft 17 which extends practically the full width of themachine and is journaled in bearings 18.

Mountedrigidly upon the shaft 17 is a sprocket wheel 19, and engagingthe latter is a sprocket chain 20, this sprocket chain also engaging asprocket wheel 21. The sprocket wheel last mentioned is supported uponthe engine shaft which appears at 22. The engine is shown at 23, and inthis instance is an internal combustion engine. It is provided with afly wheel 24: and with a clutch 25 for controlling the'engine shaft 22.A hand lever 26 is connected with the clutch 25 for throwing the sameinto and out of action. The rear wheels of the device are shown at 27and are mounted upon stub shafts 28, the latter being controllable bybevel gears 29 which are revolubly supported upon hearing sleeves 30,the latter being connected rigidly with the framework, as may beunderstood from Fig. 4. Meshing with the bevel gears 29 are two otherbevel gears 31, the latter being mounted rigidly upon two shafts 32.These shafts carry two other bevel gears 33, and meshing with the latteris a bevel gear 34. A vertical shaft 35 is secured rigidly to the bevelgear 34, and mounted upon the top end of this vertical shaft is a handwheel 36. The operator, by grasping this hand wheel and turning it, can,by transferring motion through the various gear members just mentioned,shift the stub shafts 28 to different angles, and thus move the rearwheels 27 into different angular positions relatively 'to the generalframe work of the machine. The hand wheel 36 is thus a steering wheel,and the various parts intermediate this wheel and the rear wheels 27,collectively constitute the steering gear. A bracket 37, provided withan upwardly extending post 37, constitutes a frame work for the gearwheels 33, 34 and the vertically extending shaft 35, as may beunderstood from Fig. 4.

Mounted upon the engine shaft 22 and controllable by a clutch 39 is asprocket wheel 41. Connected with the clutch 39 for actuating the sameis a hand lever 40. J ournaled upon the engine shaft 22 are two links42, 42 A link 43 is connected with the link 42 by a shaft 43. This shaftalso connects the link 42 with a link 44, which is substantiallyparallel to the link 43. Mounted upon the shaft 43 are two sprocketwheels 45, 46. A sprocket chain 47 engages the sprocket wheels 41 and46. A sprocket chain 48 engages the sprocket wheel 45 and also asprocket wheel 49.

Mounted rigidly upon a shaft 44 (see Fig. 5) is a gear pinion 50,located within a housing 51, and thus protected. Engaging the gearpinion 50 is an annular rack 52, the teeth of which are disposedinternally thereof. Encircling the rack 52 is a wheel rim 53, andmounted rigidly upon this wheel rim and disposed in the form of a circleare a number of spades 54. Supporting the wheel rim 53 are spokes 53*carried by a hub 53". The parts just mentioned collectively constitutethe excavating wheel. Extending through this hub is a sleeve 55, andmount ed rigidly upon the latter is a belt pulley 56. A belt 57 engagesthis pulley, and also engages another pulley 58, the latter beingrigidly mounted upon a revoluble shaft 59, which is supported above theU-frame 7 and practically carried thereby. A conveyer 60 is connectedwith the shaft 59 and actuated by movements of the same. A brace 61 isprovided for the purpose of supporting this conveyer. Disposed adjacentthe outer end of the conveyer is a spout 62 or chute, which is used forthe purpose of discharging materials dropped upon it by action of theconveyer.

Mounted rigidly upon the frame work of the machine are three yokes 63,64, 65 which extend upwardly, the yokes 63 and 64 being upon one side ofthe U-frame 7, and the yoke 65 being located upon the opposite sidethereof. The yokes 63, 64, 65 are provided with vertically extendingrack bars 66, 67, 68, and engaging these rack bars are three gear wheels69, 70, 71. The gear wheels 69 and 71 are mounted rigidly upon a shaft72 which extends the full width of the U-frame. A sprocket 73 is mountedrigidly upon the sleeve 55, constituting practically the shaft of theexcavating wheel, as may be understood from Fig. 6. Engaging thesprocket wheel 73 is a sprocket chain 74 which also engages anothersprocket wheel 75. The axle of the shaft upon which this sprocket wheel75 is mounted is shown at 76. Mounted upon the sleeve 55 is a clutchmember 77, and mating this clutch member is another clutch member 78,which is provided with a hub 7 9, formed into a spool or reel, as may beunderstood from Fig. 6, and mounted upon the shaft 72. A cam thread 80,carried by the shaft 72, engages the hub 79 in such manner as to movethe clutch member 78 longitudinally of the shaft 72 whenever the hub 79is turned slightly in the proper direction. A cord 82 is wound partiallyaround the hub 79, and is used for turning the latter relatively to theshaft 72, so as toforce the clutch member 78 into engagement with theclutch member 77. The cord 82 is also wound upon a reel 83, the latterbeing of suitable form and proportions to be rotated by hand, by aperson standing on the floor 10 by means of the crank handle 83 on theshaft of the reel, the reel being locked in position by the ratchetwheel a and pawl 5. Whenever this reel is turned so as to tighten thecord 82, the clutch member 78 is forced into engagement with the clutchmember 7 7, which is always turning while the excavating wheel is beingactuated. lVhenever the clutch member 78 is thus brought into engagement with the clutch member 77 the shaft 72 is caused to rotate, andthe gear wheels 69, 71 climb directly upward upon the rack bars 66 and68. Motion being communicated from the sprocket wheel 73 through thesprocket chain 74, and sprocket wheel 75 to the shaft 76, the gear wheelalso climbs directly upward upon the rack bar 67. The U-frame 7 is thusraised directly upward, and yet all the while maintained parallel withthe general upper surface of the frame work of the machine. As soon asthe tension upon the cord 82 is slackened, the upward movement of theU-frame is stopped. Therefore, the operator, by skilfully handling thereel 83, may cause the U- frame 7 to assume and to be held at anydesired level within the limits of its travel. If the reel 83 be sohandled as to relax the cord 82, the U-frame drops downwardly by its ownweight, owing to the disengagement with the clutch member 78 from theclutch member 77 The excavating wheel may, therefore, be adjusted todifferent levels relatively to the frame work of the machine, and thismay be done even while the excavating wheel is in full action, and whilethe machine is traveling ahead. A post 84 carried by the floor 10, isused for supporting the hand reel 83. It is to be understood thatthereel 83 may be provided with any suitable means for locking it inposition after the excavating wheel has been adjusted.

Mounted rigidly upon the frame work of the machine .is a pedestalv 85,the'general form of which may be seen in the upper portion of Fig. 2.This pedestal carries a bearing 86 of a general cylindrical form, theaxis of the bearing extending obliquely upward. Journaled within thebearing 86 is a dirt wheel 87 provided with outwardly extending pins 88,having roughly the form of spokes, and carrying dirt plates 89 at theirouter ends. The dirt plates are of suitable form to pass loosely inbetween consecutive pairs of the spades 54:, so that rotation of theexcavating Wheel turns the dirt wheel, and the dirt plates 89 are thusautomatically thrust in between the spades 54, as may be understood fromFig. 3. When, therefore, the machine is in action, and the excavatingwheel is turning, and cutting and carrying dirt, this dirt is pushedlaterally out of the excavating wheel by action of the dirt wheel, andbrought into engagement with the conveyer 60. Adjacent the excavatingwheel are a pair of guards 91 for protecting various parts of themechanism from dirt falling from the excavating wheel. Located below theexcavating wheel is a shovel point 92. Adjacent this shovel point andback of the same is a shovel plate 93, which is mounted rigidly upon abar 94, this bar being pivotally supported at its forward end on pivot94. The rear end of the bar 94 is connected with a rod 95, this rodcarrying, adjacent its upper end, a rack bar 96. This rack bar extendsthrough a slot 97 in a plate 98, and is provided with a handle 99. Theoperator, by grasping the handle 99, may disengage the rack bar 96 fromthe plate 98, and may then raise or lower the rack bar and secure it ina new position. In doing this, the operator gives diflerent degrees ofinclination of the shovel plate 93. Two guards 100, each having the formof a disk, are disposed within the rim 58 of the excavating wheel, andserve to protect parts within the latter from dirt.

The operation of our device is as follows: The parts being assembled andarranged as above described and the engine 23 being in action, power istransmitted from the engine to the front wheels 11, and the machine thustravels ahead, after the manner of a vehicle. The excavating wheel,having been placed at its proper level, suitable for the particular workin hand, the rotation of the excavating wheel causes it to dig and carryup dirt, which is located between the spades 54E. By action of the dirtwheel 87 and conveyer 60, the dirt, carried up by the excavating wheel,is removed and thrown off in a lateral direction, some distance from themachine.

The steering of the machine is accomplished, as above described, by aidof the steering wheel 36. The mechanism within the excavating wheel isprotected against the action of dirt, by the disks 100. The action ofthe conveyer depends upon the action of the excavating wheel, and whenthe excavating wheel slows down or stops, the conveyer does likewise.

e do not limit ourselves to the precise arrangement shown, as variationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A ditching machine comprising an excavating wheel provided with aplurality of spades secured rigidly thereto and extending radiallyoutward therefrom, a dirt wheel disposed adjacent said excavating wheeland inclined thereto, said wheels being provided with a plurality ofspokes extending radially outward, and a plurality of dirt plates eachmounted upon one of said spokes and so formed as to extend loosely inbetween consecutive pairs of said spades, and means for applying powerto said excavating wheel.

2. In a ditching machine, the combination of a frame work, a U-framecarried by said frame work and movable relatively to the same, aplurality of yokes mounted upon said frame work, racks connected withsaid yokes and extending vertically therefrom, gear wheels journaledupon said U-frame and engaging said racks for the purpose of raising andlowering said U-frame relatively to said frame work whenever said gearwheels are turned, supporting wheels for supporting said frame work,means for applying power to said supporting wheels in order to turn thelatter and thus move said frame work and said 'U-frame, and mechanismfor applying power momentarily to said gear wheels in order to actuatethe latter.

3. In a ditching machine, a frame-work provided with vertical andoppositely arranged racks, a vertically movable frame, a shaft mountedin the frame, pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks, an excavatingwheel loosely mounted on the shaft, means for operating the excavatingwheel, a clutch connecting the excavating wheel with the shaft, andmeans for operating the clutch.

4. In a ditching machine, a frame-work provided with vertical andoppositely arranged racks, a vertically movable frame, a shaft mountedin the frame, pinions on the ends of the shaft and meshing with theracks, an excavating wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, means foroperating the excavating wheel, a clutch connecting the excavating wheelwith the said shaft, one member of the clutch being carried by the wheeland the other mounted to turn and move longitudinally of the shaft, andmeans for operating the said movable member of the clutch.

5. In a ditching machine, a frame-work provided with three verticalracks, two on one side and one on the other side, a movable U-shapedframe, a shaft mounted in the for Ward part of the frame, pinions on theends of the shaft and meshing with two of the racks, a shaft mounted inthe rear part of the frame and provided with a pinion meshing with theother rack, an excavating I a wheel loosely mounted on the first namedshaft, means for operating the excavating wheel, a clutch connecting thewheel with said shaft, means for operating the clutch, and means foroperating the pinion of the second shaft from the excavating wheel.

6. In a ditching machine, a frame-work provided with three verticalracks, two on one side and one on the other side, a movable frame, ashaft mounted in the forward part ofthe frame and provided with pinionsmeshing with two of the racks, a shaft mounted in the rear of the frameand provided with a pinion meshing with the other rack, an excavatingwheel having an elongated hub loosely mounted on the shaft, means foroperating said wheel, a clutch connecting the wheel with the shaft,means for operating the clutch, and gearing between the hub of theexcavating wheel and the shaft carrying the single pinion.

I 7. In a ditching machine, a frame-work of the frame and provided withpinions meshing with two of the racks, a shaft mounted in the rear ofthe frame and provided with a pinion meshing with the other rack, anexcavating wheel loosely mounted on the first named shaft, means foroperating the wheel, means for operating the shaft having a singlepinion from the excavating wheel, a clutch connecting the excavatingwheel with the said shaft, one member of the clutch being carried bysaid wheel and the other member being mounted to turn on and movelongitudinal of the shaft, the movable member carrying a spool, a reelat the rear of the frame, and a cable winding on said spool and reel.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specificationeach in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. CONROY. JOE SHIMON. Witnesses:

J. J. KELLEHER, Gno. SoHNmDnRs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner'ot Patent;

Washington, D. C.

